Australia Weather News
A freak hail storm over 20 kilometres long has decimated grain crops in central west New South Wales. - ABC
Thousands of hectares of grain crops in New South Wales have been decimated in a freak hail storm.
A number of storm cells ripped through the central west on Friday night damaging crops, felling trees and ripping rooves off houses.
Trundle farmer David Watt said he believed the storm was about 10 kilometres wide and ran for at least 20 kilometres.
"There are going to be some crops that are a 100 percent loss," he said.
"I have approximately 200 hectares of barley with severe damage. Around 600 hectares of canola would have severe damage.
"It's patchy with our wheat, but there would be 800 hectares of wheat damaged."
Neighbouring farmer Andrew Curr said hail stones broke windows and ripped through flyscreen on the night.
He farms with his son near Trundle and said it's difficult for his son to watch brilliant crops go to waste.
"It's a bit disappointing, when we have had such good potential yields and crops this year because of the season," he said.
"To see it damaged like that is still a disappointment to them, even though we should be financially covered."
ABC